Venus Williams wins Wuhan Open, Muguruza retires in 2nd set
WUHAN, China — Venus Williams won the Wuhan Open on Saturday when her Spanish opponent and fifth-seeded Garbine Muguruza retired with a left ankle injury while trailing 6-3, 3-0.
It was the unseeded Williams' 47th WTA singles title.
"Well, this is a sad day today," said Muguruza. "I'm very sorry I had to retire today, but I had a really amazing week here in Wuhan."
Williams had to rally from 5-3 down in the third set of the quarterfinals to beat British qualifier Johanna Konta, and she saved a match point during a 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (4) semifinal win over Roberta Vinci.
Both finalists are projected to make major moves up the rankings -- Williams from No. 24 to No. 14 and Muguruza from No. 8 to No. 5, her top-five debut.
Earlier Saturday, Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza beat Irina-Camelia Begu and Monica Niculescu in straight sets in the doubles final.
The winning duo dropped serve three times and had to fight back from a 2-0 deficit in the second set, but the No.1-seeded Hingis and Mirza won 6-2, 6-3.
The Swiss-Indian pairing have seven WTA doubles titles this year and have won their last three tournaments in a row -- the U.S. Open, Guangzhou and Wuhan -- and 13 straight matches.
